"Purple" wrote in message
...


Hi Jen

I also have a young daughter, a bit older than yours though, she's three.
I
used to live in London but recently moved to Nottinghamshire. When you say
you would like to get more women on the road do you mean literally or do
you
stick to parks and cycle paths?

I'd like to get women onto the roads, parks, paths - wherever they feel
comfortable. I ride on all three. I tend to stick with the less busy streets
when I'm with my daughter, but you can't always do so. (She does love waving
at the buss drivers). Myself, I ride on the busy streets and actually love
doing so. The key is to take - and own - your space.

snip

I have only just started cycling again after ten years, I bought a new
bike
yesterday and a trailer for my little girl as she is too big too ride in a
child seat. My partner would also like a bike now and it has crossed his
mind that if we both have bikes we could go camping, cycling from campsite
to campsite but I would need to get a lot more bike savvy and confident
first.

That is one of the reasons that I got into cycling - as we go camping as a
family, too!

Do you find that motorists give you a lot of space with you having
you daughter at the back of your bike?

I take it. But seriously, I think most motorists will give you space if
you are confident, maintain eye contact, and be assertive about the rules of
the road. I think when you get into trouble is when you waver in your
intentions.


I don't live in London anymore so don't qualify to join your Yahoo group
but
just to have my tuppence worth: I may have only gone on my first proper
bike
ride today but I absolutely loved it and my daughter had a blast. It was
nice to get away from it all and hit the countryside. It was a really
pleasant feeling to have the wind in my hair while being able to hear my
daughter singing twinkle twinkle little star in the back.

Fantastic!!! I love hearing my litle one gurgle and make animal sounds back
there!

I definitely think
it is a great way for women and children to get out into the fresh air and
it will also encourage children to lead a healthy lifestyle later on in
life. I don't know why I didn't buy a bike sooner, when we got home my
little girl didn't want to get out the trailer, she could happily have
rode
(ridden?) around all day!

The key thing, though, is you started! Hurrah!

Good luck with your group!

Thanks very much - if you think of anyone who might be interested, please
have them get in touch.

Best, Jennifer